Israelis go to the polls on March 17 to elect the 20th Knesset, and with it, a new government. The Israeli electorate is divided over national security, economics, and the public role of religion, and as many as 10 parties are expected to win seats in the next Knesset. The elections also come at a pivotal moment in Israel’s foreign relations: nuclear negotiations with Iran are approaching a decisive moment, Israeli-Palestinian relations are tense, and the Netanyahu and Obama administrations are squabbling. How important are these elections? What might the results mean for Israel’s future, U.S.-Israeli relations, and Israel’s foreign policy?

On March 11, the Center for Middle East Policy convened a panel of Brookings experts to preview Israel’s coming elections and their broader significance.